Jenna Kernan – Tribal Blood (страница 5)

He gripped her shoulders, increasing the tension as he pushed her to arm’s length. He stared at her, panting and feral, like a mad dog. Then he pressed his hand over his mouth and wiped away her kiss. The pain in her stomach morphed from sorrow at his rejection to another contraction. She grimaced and groped behind her for the solid security of the rock, seating herself as the contraction gripped her.

He was not the boy she recalled, the one who kissed her and told her that he’d come back for her. That boy had been joyful and optimistic. But the man before her was taller, leaner and harder than Colt Redhorse. There was a wildness around the whites of his eyes that reminded her of a mustang the instant he feels the rope cinch around his neck. Colt’s nostrils flared and he stepped back, his gaze sweeping down to her bare feet and then back up to her face.

She imagined what he must think, and the shame sent a guilty flush into her face, making it burn with heat. Kacey placed a hand on her distended belly and the other on the hollow below her cheekbone. Somehow in just over a year, everything had changed between them and they were strangers.

Beneath the skin, her muscles were contracting, sending pressure all the way around to her back. This one was worse. She hunched and groaned, squeezing her eyes shut.

“You shouldn’t do that. I’m not... I can’t.”

She heard the blast of air as he forcefully exhaled.

“They’ll come back for the baby.”

Colt glanced down the road in the direction of their retreat.

“Should I bring you to the clinic?” he asked.

Her reply was a shout. “No!”

Colt flinched. “All right. Where, then? Your mom’s?”

“They’ll look for me there. My sisters and brothers, I don’t want anything to happen to them.” Finally the pressure in her back eased and she could straighten. That was when she noted that Colt had one arm around her. The other she gripped, squeezing with a force that matched the contraction. She released his arm and saw the white print of her hand disappear as the blood returned to his forearm.

How long would this go on? It had been over an hour already.

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Ty said you agreed to come home after your discharge if you could come here.” She didn’t mention the reason for his discharge. Had Ty told her that his kid brother had been a POW, rescued and returned stateside?

“So you came here looking for me?” Colt asked.

She lowered her gaze. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

He made a sound in his throat and then said, “I’m honored.”

Kacey’s mouth dropped open and her gaze flashed to him. Colt smiled down at her and for a moment everything was good again. He was here with her and she knew he would protect her.

She looked up at him, noting the unfamiliar breadth of his shoulders. His hair gleamed with good health. She reached up and fingered a strand, placing it on his chest and pressing it into place.

“They didn’t make you cut it,” she said. His hair still reached to his chest and she was so glad.

“Nope. Just made me wear it tied back and under my shirt or in a bun.”

“A bun?” Imagining that made her smile. He smiled, too.

His wide mouth drew back to reveal white, even teeth. He’d had the chip in the front repaired and now she could not even remember which tooth he had damaged. His jaw was more prominent, as were his cheekbones.

“You’re too skinny,” she said.

He pressed his mouth closed, still smiling as he nodded. “That’s what Ty says, too.”

“You see him? How is he?”

Colt shook his head. “I don’t talk to him.”

Her brow wrinkled. “But you said—”

“He comes sometimes. He talks to me. I let him see me. But I don’t speak to him. I don’t speak to anyone.”

Her frown deepened.

“But me?” she asked.

He blew out a breath through his nose. “I guess so.”

“How long have you lived like this?”

“Since they released me.”

“Released?”

Didn’t she know? But she didn’t. He could see it in the wide earnest expression that showed nothing but confusion. Well, he sure wasn’t going to tell her.

His lips went tight. He led her down to the car. “Let’s get you out of here.”

She took a few steps and then stopped. “I can’t go to one of the settlements or the police.”

“Why?”

“They’re looking for me. They’ll take me again.”

His eyes shifted and one hand went to the strap of his rifle. “Who?”

“Those two and I don’t know who else. I heard more of them. But I’ve only ever seen Oleg and Anton. Oh, and one other guy. I don’t know his name.”

“Oleg?”

“Russians.”

He looked back toward the road. “They have an armored car.” He swung the rifle before him, lifting it to his shoulder. “Plug your ears,” he said.

She did and he took a shot. The bullet punched a hole in the rear door of the car she had stolen.

“That one isn’t armored.” He swung the rifle so the strap held it behind his back. “Okay. Let’s go farther up into the ridge. There’s a second cabin.”

“Anyone know that?”

“Ty.”

“Let’s go.” She allowed him to help her to the car and flushed as he pulled the safety belt over her distended belly and clipped it in place. She sank into the seat, closing her eyes.

“How long did they have you?” he asked.

She turned to him, opening her eyes. “Since February.”

“February!” He straightened, his brow sweeping down over his dark eyes. That was eight months.

“Yeah.”

“Everyone said you ran away.”

“I didn’t.” She reached and gripped his hand. “Colt, there are more of us. More like me and they’re all from Turquoise Canyon.”

Now he was staring down the road where they had gone. “I could call Jake. Maybe he could pick them up.”

“You have a phone?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“They’ll kill Jake.” The next contraction built across her middle.

He gripped her door frame and glanced down the empty road. “But you said there were others.”

Her eyes widened. “Yes. Three others. They have Marta Garcia. She was in my class in high school. They took her before me. And Brenda Espinoza. She’s five months pregnant. And Maggie Kesselman. They’re all like me.” She motioned to her belly. “Marta’s due any day.”

“What will happen to them now that you escaped?”

A cold shot of terror ripped through her. “I don’t know.” But the possibilities terrified her.